Archivists collect, evaluate, systemize, preserve, and make available for use public records and documents of historical value.  

Curators direct and coordinate the activities of workers engaged in operating museums, art galleries, zoos, herbariums, and nature centers.  

JOB DUTIES 

Archivists may:

Analyze and appraise the value of documents such as government papers, minutes of meetings, letters, charters of institutions, and other records, such as photos, videotapes, computer tapes, and microfiche  

Direct the cataloging and safekeeping of valuable materials and the disposal of worthless ones  

Direct the acquisition of new materials  

Prepare document descriptions and reference aids, such as accession lists, indexes, guides, bibliographies, abstracts, and microfilmed copies of documents  

Select and edit documents for publication and display  

Direct the filing and cross-filing of documents  

Direct the physical arrangement of materials  

Advise government agencies, scholars, journalists, and others conducting research by supplying available records and information  

Establish policy guidelines concerning public access and use of materials  

Request or recommend materials available in libraries, private collections, or other archives  

Curators may:

Supervise the staff, activities, and affairs of the institution  

Meet with governing body representatives to form or change policies and plan overall operations  

Formulate plans for special research projects  

Prepare budgets, maintain inventories, represent the institution at meetings and soliciting financial support  

Negotiate purchase, sale, exchange, or loan of collections  

Study, examine, and test acquisitions to authenticate their origin, composition history, and current value  

Direct and/or assist in recording descriptive information, maintain registration files, and create related resource materials for acquisitions  

Organize the physical arrangement of collections to be exhibited or stored and determine factors critical to their preservation  

The tools, equipment, and materials used may include:

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES

Archivists and Curators may specialize in these areas:

101.167-010 ARCHIVISTS collect, evaluate, systemize, preserve, and make available for use public records and documents of historical value.  

102.017-010 CURATORS direct and coordinate the activities of workers engaged in operating museums, zoos, herbariums, and nature centers. They may be designated according to their place of work and area of responsibility. Specializations include historical site Curator, art gallery Curator, anthropology museum Curator, historical society museum Curator, university anthropology museums Curator, horticultural museum Curator, and zoological museum Curator.  

102.117-010 HISTORIC SITE SUPERVISORS direct and coordinate personnel who investigate, acquire, mark, improve, and preserve historic sites and natural phenomena within state policy.  

102.167-014 HISTORICAL SITE ADMINISTRATORS manage the operation and maintenance of historic structures or sites and establish or change policies by working with representatives of governing agencies.  

102.167-010 ART CONSERVATORS coordinate activities of subordinates who examine, restore, and preserve art objects, such as paintings, statuary, tapestries, or china as well as historically significant documents, furnishings, ethnological equipment, or textiles.  

Many Archivists and Curators are experienced in preservation and restoration. Art conservators coordinate activities of subordinates who examine, restore, and preserve art objects, such as paintings, statuary, tapestries, or china as well as historically significant items, such as documents, furnishings, ethnographic and archaeological artifacts or textiles.  

In addition to learning about these specialties, you may also find it helpful to explore the following MOIScripts:  

WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Archivists and Curators work with other professionals and may supervise technicians, assistants, and clerical workers.  

Archivists and Curators spend much of their time in pleasant, well lighted, and air-conditioned surroundings. Archivists frequently examine records in dusty storage areas, attics, or basements. They may work in libraries, museum laboratories, expedition sites, and auction halls.  

Archivists and Curators usually work 40 hours per week. The hours of work may be irregular at times because of lecturing, attending meetings, and setting up exhibits.  

They may do some traveling when borrowing exhibits, collections, or documents from museums, institutions, or individuals. Curators may travel when conducting field trips for research. Art Conservators may travel to examine, help restore, or treat various objects displayed at other establishments.  

They may belong to professional organizations for anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians. These may include the Society of American Archivists and the American Association for State and Local History. Members of associations pay periodic membership fees.  

You Should Prefer:

• Activities dealing with things and objects  

• Activities involving business contact with people  

• Activities of a scientific and technical nature  

• Activities of an abstract and creative nature  

• Activities resulting in recognition from others  

You Should Be Able To:

• Reason logically and interpret ideas or facts  

• Communicate effectively in speech and writing  

• Direct, control, and plan activities  

• Have agreeable working relationships with others  

• Make decisions based on personal judgment or verifiable data  

• Perform a variety of duties  

• See differences in shapes, colors, textures, and sizes  

• Perform arithmetic operations quickly and accurately  

• Work within exact standards of accuracy  

• Visualize drawings as solid objects if a Museum Technician  

Math Problem You Should Be Able to Solve:

Create a time line from 1700 to 1800 in 6 year intervals for an exhibit at a museum.  

Reading Example You Should Be Able to Read and Comprehend:

Must be able to read and understand terminology used in past time periods.  

Writing Example You Should Be Able to Produce:

Prepare a written appraisal for a specific government document.  

Thinking Skill You Should Be Able to Demonstrate:

Must be able to organize large amounts of various documents and think about the best way to make them accessible to the public.  

Employers of Archivists increasingly require at least a master's degree in an area compatible with the emphasis of the employing institution, such as library science, fine arts, or zoology, along with related work experience. Many institutions, however, require a Ph.D. for entry-level positions. Competency in at least one foreign language is required of most doctoral candidates. Because many archives contain materials that are sensitive for various reasons, some Archivists are required to have security clearance.  

  [back to top]

EDUCATION AND PREPARATION OPPORTUNITIES

NOTE: A Bachelor's Degree (four years of study beyond High School) or a Master's Degree (five to six years of study beyond High School) or a Professional Degree or Doctorate (seven to ten years of study beyond High School) may qualify a person for this occupation.

The following education and preparation opportunities are helpful in preparing for occupations in the MOIScript:  

***SCHOOL SUBJECTS***

l0 ART , 0700 CAREERS , 0900 COMMUNICATIONS , 1000 COMPUTERS , 1900 HISTORY , 2200 MATH , 2900 SCIENCE , 3000 SOCIAL STUDIES

***VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS***

There are no Vocational Education Programs related to this MOIScript  

***POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS***

092 LIBRARY SCIENCE

Programs in Library Science provide opportunities to gain knowledge and skills required for professional employment in libraries. Librarians make information available to users in such forms as books, magazines, and film collections. Michigan school Librarians are required to have a bachelor's degree and a Michigan Teaching Certificate.  

Courses will vary from school to school but may include:

112 MUSEUM SCIENCE

Programs in Museum Science provide opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills used by professional museum workers. The courses focus on the principles, methods, and techniques used in museums rather than the subject matter of natural history fields such as history, anthropology, art, zoology, botany, and paleontology.  

Courses vary from school to school but may include:

Search for a College and/or Instructional Program

***APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES***

There are no Apprenticeships related to this MOIScript  

***MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAMS***

There are no Military Programs related to this MOIScript  

E-Learning Courses and Programs

  [back to top]

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPERIENCE AND METHODS OF ENTRY

Summer, part-time, and volunteer work in archives or museums as clerical aides, technicians, tour guides, or attendants offer opportunities to observe Archivists and Curators at work. A few persons with 4 to 6 years of appropriate postsecondary training may be hired as interns doing curatorial, administrative, educational, conservation, or research duties.  

                School-to-Work opportunities include:

informal apprenticeships  

mentorships  

job shadowing experiences  

touring a local Archivist and Curator employer  

internships  

volunteer work with a Archivist and Curator employer  

community service work with an agency  

The most common methods of finding positions as an Archivist or Curator are by applying directly to employers and contacting civil service offices. The American Association of Museums publishes "The Official Museum Directory" annually and the monthly newsletter, "AVISO", which identify potential employers of Curators. "History News", published by the American Association for State and Local History, is a good source for openings. Assistance may be obtained from college placement offices or professional associations. In addition, you should access and search the Internet's on-line employment services sites such as:  

Society of American Archivists Employment Bulletin ( http://www.archivists.org )  

Association of Systematics Collections Employment Opportunities ( http://www.nscalliance.org/ )  

Organization of American Historians Jobs Online ( http://www.oah.org )

Michigan Talent Bank

Michigan Jobs & Career Portal  

Classifieds Employment  

Yahoo! Careers

MONSTER.COM

 You should also enter an electronic resume on these on-line services.  

  [back to top]

EARNINGS AND ADVANCEMENT

Earnings of Archivists and Curators vary greatly according to the graduate degrees earned, the extent of professional training, and area of specialization. The size, type, and location of the employing institution, as well as the size of its operating budget, are also key factors.  

Nationally (1998), the median annual salary of Archivists and Curators was $36,400. The federal government (1999) paid inexperienced Archivists with bachelor's degrees $20,588 per year. The salaries of these federal government workers may be higher in some urban areas. Experienced Archivists also earned more.  

Historians and history specialists employed by the State of Michigan as Archivists earned between $29,503 and $64,979 annually in mid 1999. Salaries of Curators employed by the city of Detroit were (1998):  

Advanced degrees and established reputations allow Archivists and Curators to supplement their income by publishing catalogs and books; authenticating objects; and consulting.  

Depending on the employer, most Archivists and Curators receive paid vacations and holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalization insurance; retirement plans; and sick pay. These benefits are usually paid for, at least in part, by the employer.  

In smaller organizations Archivists and Curators may direct activities. In larger organizations they may advance from an area of specialization to director. A typical career ladder may look like this: Archivist; Director of Archives. A career ladder for Curators may look like this: museum intern; Art Conservator; assistant Curator; or assistant Curator; Curator; director of museum.  

EMPLOYMENT AND OUTLOOK

Nationally, about 19,900 Archivists and Curators were employed in 1996. Employment of Archivists and Curators is expected to increase about as fast as the average of all occupations through the year 2006. The industry distribution for Archivists and Curators looked like this:  

Opportunities will be best for specialists in conservation and preservation methods. While turnover among Archivists and Curators is low, openings will occur as the number of museums increase. Archivists and Curators with advanced and proven skills are currently in short supply. There is a constant demand for highly qualified Art Conservators.  

Some large corporations have archives or records centers, employing archivists to manage the growing volume of records created or maintained as required by law or necessary to the firms' operations. Religious and fraternal organizations, professional associations, conservation organizations, major private collectors, and research firms also employ archivists and curators.  

Conservators may work under contract to treat particular items, rather than as a regular employee of a museum or other institution. These conservators may work on their own as private contractors, or as an employee of a conservation laboratory or regional conservation center that contracts their services to museums.  

Approximately 600 Archivists and Curators are employed by museums and art galleries in Michigan. Most of them worked in urban areas. Others worked in archives; historical societies; research & academic institutions; special libraries; religious organizations; government agencies; art, zoological, and botanical museums; businesses and labor organizations; and commercial labs that provide conservation or restoration services.  

The employment of Archivists and Curators is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005. An average of 20 annual openings is expected during this period, with most due to the need to replace some of those who retire, die, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Additional openings will occur as workers change jobs or occupations.  

Opportunities will be best for those holding Ph.D. degrees. Many persons wishing to enhance their employability for top-level, high-paying positions are supplementing traditional academic backgrounds with additional training and/or work experience in business administration. Extensive background in records management, computer science, and information science is becoming increasingly important to the employability of Archivists.  

MICHIGAN'S EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK TO 2005

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Printed Occupational information is available upon written request from sources below.  

SUMMARY PROFILE

The occupation of Archivist/Curator can be summarized by the following:

MOISCRIPTS are Copyright 2003, Michigan Department of Career Development